Golf is fun, whether playing solo or with others. Having a basic understanding of the game’s rules makes it easier to enjoy the experience and improve your skills. In this periodic column, I provide brief explanations of golf rules and answer commonly asked questions.
Question:
Karen knows that she can drop the ball within two club lengths no nearer the hole and take a one-stroke penalty. She also knows that she can drop her ball behind the point where it lays, keeping that point directly between the hole and spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit as to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped.
Due to the denseness of the woods, both of these options are not practical. Karen tells Barb that she does not know what to do. What option has she forgotten?
Answer:
Tip: You can always play any shot over from the same spot if you apply the applicable penalty.
As always, have fun playing and practicing the game of golf. E-mail me at grahamgolf@darientel.net if you have any questions or suggestions.
Barb tells Karen that she can play a ball as nearly as possible from where she hit her last shot. Simply put, she can go back to the front of the green and replay her last shot. Since her third shot went over the green she now lays four with the added penalty stroke. Karen and Barb are playing in their Tuesday ladies’ association event. On the fourth hole, Karen lies two a few feet off the front of the green. She hits her next shot thin (skulled) over the green and into the edge of the woods. After trying to take a stance to hit her fourth shot, she decides that she needs to declare the ball unplayable.